W&N materials used
Artists’ Water Colour, and Windsor Newton Series 7 brushes
About Karen Kluglein
I graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in illustration and was later known for illustrating food which of course means painting fruits, vegetables and herbs.
Much of my work was found on food packaging. This transitioned into botanical painting and today my botanical work is exhibited and collected throughout the country. I exhibit in shows through the American Society of Botanical Artists and various Botanical Gardens and galleries.
My years of work as an illustrator gave me many advantages as a botanical artist. I learned that in order to paint realistically reference had to be extreemely accurate paying attention to lighting etc. I was also influceced by my artistic parents. My father was a woodworker and my mother a watercolorist. My mother also painted nature subjects in a style similar to mine.
I teach botanical painting at the New York Botanical Garden and in my studio on the eastern end of Long Island, New York. I always recommend Windsor and Newton professinal grade watercolors and Winsor and Newton Series 7 sable brushes to my students.
Karen Kluglein's Work
I have always worked with Winsor and Newton watercolors in a detailed realistic style. I use a smooth heavy weight hot pressed paper or calfskin vellum. Vellum is a unique surface that gives the painting a translucent quality.
Painting from life I take careful detailed written and color notes on my subject as well as photograph it since it will inevidably not last. The botanicals are scientifically accurate though I manipulate the subject for a pleasing composition. Rendering is done with drybrush, building up pigment to bring out the subjects form. This process takes many hours and is truly a labor of love.
I held an exhibition in April 2011 at the New York Botanical Garden. It was entitled 'Green Currency'. Plant subjects are of medicinal and cash crops. I chose to paint corn and grapes.
Karen Kluglein uses Winsor & Newton because
the paints have a huge range of colors that are clear and beautiful and there is no comparison to the series 7 brushes.
For further information on Karen Kluglein visit:
website: www.botanical-paintings.com
Email: botanicalpaint@aol.com